Travels

A brief overview of my ABA journey at home and abroad. I love not just learning about diversity, but living it as well! Being able to work and travel has been my true passion, and I have definitely learned as much as I have taught!

CANADA

TORONTO
I started freelance work in 2010 in Toronto, and primarily am the sole therapist for most of my families, who live across the Greater Toronto Area. As the sole therapist, I collaborate directly with caregivers and para-professionals, conduct assessments, write reports, conduct the behavioural programs, collect and analyse data, and train parents when necessary.

GROUP-BASED ABA
I started facilitating social skills group at the Geneva Centre for Autism.
In 2012, I started working at Aisling Discoveries as an ABA Therapist for the province’s new government-funded Autism ABA Services. Groups are offered to children as young as 2, and up to 18 years, and included groups that focused on improving social skills, language skills, emotional regulation, PECS, PEERS (for teens), and ImPACT (for families with newly diagnosed kiddos).

aSIA

HONG KONG
In April 2014, I joined The Children's Institute of Hong Kong, which provided 1:1 and small group teaching to approximately 25 children on the spectrum, with some students attending integrated classes at its neighbouring affiliated mainstream school.

Working alongside both international and local colleagues opened my eyes and mind to how different cultures regard mental health issues and the many ways ABA could be interpreted and used in an agency-settings as well as a school-settings.

THAILAND

After leaving Hong Kong, I spent 2 months in 2015 on sunny Koh Samui, and joined the Samui Special Needs School, the only school on the island for children with special needs.

CAMBODIA

While backpacking through Cambodia, I was able to arrange a visit to a local school for a day! This school was located in a village 16kms from the capital Siem Reap. Most of the students were from poor family backgrounds and only went to school for half days, since they were required to help out with their family’s farm/business. I was able to use the same methods as in the ABA social skills groups to teach the class a lesson on introducing themselves in English, and identifying the weather. It was great fun, and the kids loved practicing their English with their friends! ABA can be used effectively in so many environments and populations.

eUROPE

SWITZERLAND
I spent 2 months in Gland during the summer of 2015. I met and worked with this family during my time in Koh Samui, and we had kept in touch. As we were both in Europe at the time, I agreed to relocate so that we could continue the program we started, which focused heavily on functional communication training and decreasing intense aggressive behaviours.

For 8 weeks, I focused on implementing the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), as my Learner was non-verbal, coupled with natural environment teaching programs, and shaping tolerance of aversive and uncomfortable situations (i.e. too hot/cold, needing to walk when Learner wanted to take the car, and waiting for preferred tangible/edible reinforcer).

NORTHERN IRELAND
I spent a year in Belfast in 2015-2016 while I was completing my Masters program, and worked part time with a 3 year old boy with high functioning autism. He had been receiving IBI with one other therapist at the time, and was followed by a BCBA qualified consultant. Shortly after I started working with him, I became the sole therapist, as the BCBA had other professional pursuits. Together with his parents, we came up with a new Behavioural Plan, which included academic skill building programs, social skills, and natural environment teaching.

ENGLAND
Following the completion of my Masters, between 2016 - 2017, I relocated to London and worked with a bright 8-year old boy. I supported him at school during the day, as well as provided 1:1 therapy in-home after school. This experience opened my eyes to the English primary school system and provided new streams of networking opportunities as I collaborated alongside teachers, SEN professionals, and learning support assistants (LSAs) at the school.

In the summer of 2019, I accepted a role as Behavioural Therapist role within the Intensive Support Team at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation. While this position required me to implement ABA techniques with high-risk clients of all ages, I quickly learned that ABA was a fairly new concept to many living in Oxfordshire, including my IST colleagues. For the first time in my career, I found myself constantly defending ABA as a reputable science and as the gold standard for autism treatment.

I currently work as a private/freelance ABA consultant and lead therapist in London.